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The Princess Royal proved she had a funny bone when she responded to the rugby player’s gesture with a cool move of her own

rincess Anne reminded fans at Murrayfield Stadium of her silly side when she jokingly dodged a hug from a Scottish rugby player after the team defeated France in the Six Nations competition.

The senior royal, 75, was at the historic match, which saw Scotland emerge victorious over the French defending champions as the full time score rang in at 50-40 points, to present the Auld Alliance Trophy.

As patron of the Scottish Rugby Union, Anne was tasked with congratulating the winning side and the captain surprised her with a funny gesture when he approached to collect the team’s prize.

Australian-born Sione Tuipulotu, 29, walked over to where Anne was stationed in the stands and motioned that he wanted a hug from the King’s sister.

Showing her jovial spirit, the Princess Royal opened her arms and wiggled them around, mirroring Sione’s attempt at an embrace before she gripped his hand in the usual handshake considered more appropriate protocol for working royals.

She laughed with the rugby star who was giggling at his bold move and patted him on the shoulder as she engaged in some small talk while handing over the silverware.

Scottish Rugby shared the adorable moment on X, and added a caption that said: “This close to a hug”.

Princess Anne was presenting the Auld Alliance Trophy to Sione Tuipulotu of Scotland© Getty Images
Princess Anne was presenting the Auld Alliance Trophy to Sione Tuipulotu of Scotland

Anne’s afternoon at Murrayfield

Spending Saturday at the match, the working royal took her seat in the President’s Suite in the West Stand at Murrayfield Stadium. An avid supporter of Scottish rugby, she has served as patron of the country’s union for almost three decades.

Anne wrapped up for the sporting event, wearing a navy wool, double-breasted coat with light tartan detailing over a green and blue tartan scarf. She added a gold brooch to her lapel and scraped her hair back from her face.

She shared a laugh with the player after she dodged his hug© Getty Images
She shared a laugh with the player after she dodged his hug

While watching the match, she was photographed hunkering down in her seat, wearing a very stylish pair of sunglasses and a dry robe jacket with a neon purple lining and a sewn-on crest in the same bold colour.

No stranger to the iconic grounds, the princess has been attending games there since the 1980s, with the SRU previously describing her as a “long-standing and committed supporter of Scottish rugby”.

The senior royal has supported Scottish rugby since the 1980s© Getty Images
The senior royal has supported Scottish rugby since the 1980s

She officially opened the East Stand in 1983 and has been spotted attending fixtures during nearly every season since that time.